Fastening or lock for trunks, valises, &amp; c.



No. 63l',775.. Patented Aug. 29, I899 R. CLAUGHTUN.

FASTENING DB LOCK FOR TRUNKS. VALISES. &c.

Application filed Oct. 7', 189B No 63l,775.

Patented Aug. 29, I899;

R. CLAUGHTDN. FASTENING 0R LOOK FOR TRUNKS, VALISES, 8w.

{Application filed on. 7, 1898. (No Mnde'i.) I

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W I up UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

RODOLPIIE CLAUGI-ITON, OF \VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

FASTENING OR LOOK FOR TRUNKS,VALISES, 80c.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,77 5, dated August 29, 1899.

Application filed October 7, 1898. Serial No. 692,910. (No model.)

To all whom it Netty concern.-

Be it known that LRODOLPHE CLAUGHTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at W'ashingtomin the District of Columbia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fastenings or Looks for Trunks, Valises, &c., of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fastenin gs or looks for trunks, valises, and the like, and more particularly is it adapted for use in connection with a so-called telescoping trunk or valise; and the object of the invention is to provide a simple, cheap, and effective means for securing or fastening such trunks; and to these ends it consists in the various features of construction and arrangement substantially as hereinafter more particularly set forth.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a two-part telescoping trunk or valise separated. Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial transverse section through the center of the lower part. Figs. 3, i, and 5 are enlargeddetail views.

My present invention maybe said to be an improvement on the subject-matter of my Patent No. 575,825, granted January 26,1897, and, like that invention, while it is adapted for many and various uses it is more particularly applicable .to a so-called telescoping trunk or valise,.and I have shown my improvements embodied in such a structure.

While the construction shown in my prior patent was effective in accomplishing the results intended, it was found inpractice that owing to the somewhat-restricted slot in the upper part through which the hasp projected it was sometimes difficult to quickly insert the hasp through the opening, and one of the features of my present invention is to provide an enlarged opening through which the hasp can be more readily inserted.

Other features of my improvement consist in an improved construction and arrangement of the locking device, whereby the parts are more securely held in position and are more accessible and easily adjusted and whereby the whole can be readily attached to the trunk or valise and the parts secured together.

In the drawings, A A represent the two portions or parts of. an ordinary telescoping trunk or valise, one portion of which fits over and practically incloses the sides and ends of the other portion, and the upper portion maybe provided with an ordinary handle A Arranged in connection with the upper part of the sides of the lower section A is a strap B of sufficient length to cover the articles in the trunk whether they are extended above the .upper edge thereof or not, and this strap not only serves to hold the articles compactly in position, but serves also as a means of supporting one portion of the fastening device.

Mounted on the strap B in the present instance is a sleeve 0, adjustable on the strap, and connected to this sleeve isahasp E. This hasp may be connected to the sleeve in any suitable way, as by a connection D, which may or may not be pivoted to the sleeve 0, but to which the hasp E is hinged, as at d. This connection is preferably slotted or notched on each side, as at. (1', below the hinge, which slots, as hereinafter described, engage the frame of the opening and hold the two parts of the trunk or valise together.

The upper portion Ais provided with a relativelylarge opening F, which is shown substantially key-shaped, in that it has an enlarged circular portion f and an elongated rectangular portionf, although the particular shape is not material, the essential feature being that the opening is as large as practicable to readily receive the hasp,and the elongated slotted portion is of a proper shape to receive the connection D, its sides engaging the notches d thereof. In the present instance the opening is provided with a rim or guard-piece G, and in order to better secure it to the trunk or valise I preferably provide a somewhat similar-shaped guard-piece Gr, between which the edges of the opening are placed, and the guards being secured in any desired way, as by rivets g. This guardpiece not only protects and strengthens the edges of the opening,but also serves as a means on which the lock H is mounted, and any suitable lock may be used and may be mounted in any suitable way, it being essential only that the look or the main portion thereof can be removed from the opening to permit the ready passage of the hasp therethrough. Thus in Figs. 1 to 3 I have shown the lock H as hinged to the guard-piece at h,whilein Fig.

4 it is pivoted, as at h, and, again, inFig. 5

the face of the lock is slotted and engages pins h on the guard-piece, so that the lock-plate can be slid so as to expose a greater portion of the opening. The lock-plate H is provided with an extension or tongue H, which not only serves as a cover for the elongated slot, but also engages the connection D and holds it in position at the extreme end of the elongated slot, and when the hasp E is turned down, as indicated more particularly in Fig. 2 in dotted lines, into its locking position this tongue also strengthens the parts and aids in forming a secure and satisfactory fastening device. The hasp E is provided with any sort of an eye 6 to engage a corresponding opening in the lock,'and the lock may be of any desired internal construction, (not necessary to be described herein,) the form indicated being a representation of a well-known construction of lock well adapted forthe purpose intended.

With this construction the arrangement and operation of the device will be readily understood, and it will be seen that when it p is desired to secure the two parts of the trunk or valise together the hasp is in the position shown in Fig. 1 and the upper portion of the trunk is forced downward over the lower portion and the hasp will readily be projected through the enlarged opening F, and when the parts are in place the connection D on the sleeve O is moved into position so that the sides of the elongated slot engage the notches d and the two parts are held together. The lock-plate II is then moved into position by folding down or turning on its pivot or sliding on its pins or otherwise, as the case may be, and its tongue I-I brought into position to bear against the connection D, and the hasp E is folded down and locked and the parts are thus secured together, and the whole forms an exceedingly practical and secure lockin g device for the parts of a trunk.

ha I c imis- 1. Ina two-parttrunk, one of the parts having a strap, a sleeve adjustable thereon, and

tion; and means for securing the parts to gether, substantially as described.

2. In a two-part trunk, the combination with an adjustable con nection secured to one of the parts, of an enlarged opening f through whichthe connection is passed and a contracted opening f 'to receive' the connection in the other part and a lock connected to cover the openings,substantially as described.

3. In a two-part trunk, the combination of one part provided with a hasp, of the other part provided with an enlarged opening to receive the hasp, and a lock-plate adjustably mounted in connection with the opening so as to cover the same and secure the parts together, substantially as described.

4. In a two-part trunk, the combination with one part provided with a hasp, of the other part provided with anopening and having a lock-plate adj ustably secured thereon, said lock-plate being provided with an extension, substantially as described.

5. In a two-part trunk, the combination with one part having an adjustable sleeve carrying a hasp and a slottedconnection, of the other part having an opening elongated at one side, and a lock-plate adapted to cover the opening and receive the hasp to secure and lock the parts together, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RODOLPHE OLAUGIITON.

WVitnesses:

PH LIP F. LARNER, Row. L. DUTTON. 

